Exploring the Natural Beauty of Northwest Arkansas

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http://www.eurekasprings.org/

Eureka Springs Arkansas is one of the most eclectic places in the entire state. The historic downtown area has many hotels and lodges including the “haunted” Crescent Hotel. Eureka Springs offers many antique stores, and lots of places to buy local artists work. There is so much packed into this town that you will just have to check it out yourself. Eureka Springs is just a 45-minute drive from the Springdale area. If  you are planning to visit the city, you probably want to make it a 2 or 3 day trip because once you get there, there is so much to do you will not want to leave.

Wilson Park in Fayetteville is the perfect place to get outside all year round. The park offers tennis courts, softball, swimming, multiple playgrounds, an open field for you and your pets, and a 1 mile walking track that closes it all in together. Skull Creek, that is a tributary to the Illinois River, runs through the middle of the park giving it a more natural feel. Wilson Park is just walking distance to campus and that makes it very popular with students. Any given day you can drive past Wilson park and see people enjoying the outdoors and getting exercise and fresh air.

This lake is located in Russellville, AR. The lake provides water sports, and fishing. The main area of Lake Dardanelle has a unique weigh in spot for fish tournaments. It is also a great spot for photographers because it shows the beautiful Mt. Nebo in the background to the south. The cool part about Lake Dardanelle is that it is located closer into town so you could go have a beautiful day in the natural beauty of the lake but still go into town that night and experience Russellville.

Mount Magazine State Park is the highest point in the state of Arkansas. With the types of fossils found on top of the mountain, it suggests that the mountain was once under water. This State Park is a hot spot for conferences, weekend getaways, and honeymoons. They have lodging, camping and much more at Mount Magazine State Park. At the south bluff of the mountain, there is the Arkansas Lodge that overlooks the beautiful Blue Mountain Lake.

Anyone who is a college football fan at all should visit the Donald W. Reynolds Stadium at the University of Arkansas. The Stadium has a unique view from the side of the north end zone. The north end zone, that doesn’t have seating just the scoreboard, has an open area that is actually outside of the stadium but it allows people who cannot go into the game to still see what is going on. When the stadium is alive at night with the roar of the crowd, it is the most special moment a Razorback fan could experience.

Petit Jean Mountain is one of my favorite mountain scenes in Arkansas. I’ve hiked, and camped there multiple times and have never had a dull moment. Petit Jean State Park has all kinds of options for visitors. Even if you are not really the camping type, they have something for everyone! In the heart of the park is the breathtaking Cedar Falls waterfall. There is just something so beautiful and magic about a natural waterfall in the valley of the mountain. A stay at Petit Jean could be made into a day trip or a extended stay. This is a fun place to get away with your friends and family.

The Pig Trail is a long stretch of road that starts in Ozark, AR and ends in Fayetteville. It was named the Pig Trail Scenic Byway because of the volume of students, and Razorback fans, that drove the route to get to Fayetteville. The trail has many beautiful pull-off spots to stop and get out of your car and just take in the beautiful view. If you are looking for a place just to drive and see Arkansas’ natural beauty the way it was mean to be, you must take the Pig Trail. It became a less traveled road when the Hopper Tunnel was blasted out to go through the mountain and make the drive to NWA shorter. But, this beloved trail weaves in and out of the Boston Mountains and takes you straight in to the heart of Fayetteville.

The Chi Omega Greek Theater is one of the well-known pieces of architecture at the University of Arkansas. The out-door amphitheater was funded by the Chi Omega sorority which was founded at the University of Arkansas in 1895. The construction started in February of 1930 and was completed later that summer. The Greek Theater is a perfect place to hang out between classes, read a book, or just hang out. The University uses this structure for concerts, pep-rallies, and speakers. It sits on top of the historic Dickson St. and is a must-see location if someone visits the city. If you are thinking of coming to school to join the UofA family the Chi Omega Greek Theater is a perfect place to pull you in and make you want to experience college here.

Devil’s Den State Park is located 10 miles south of Fayetteville in the town of West Fork. The park is very popular for spelunking and hiking. They have trails for all ages and experiences. When I went hiking at Devil’s Den, I was blown away with the beauty of the trails and caves. There is a waterfall area that is beautiful and refreshing on a hot day of hiking. This is one of my favorite local camping spots in the Northwest Arkansas area!!

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/devilsden/